Machine for melting snow



I Patented Sept. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES 301m 8. runner, on wrnxnsnannn, PENNSYLVANIA.

nacnnm son. m'rme snow.

Application filed larch 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,289.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S.- BRADY, citizen of the United States, residing. at Wilkes-Barre, inthe-countyof Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain for MeltingSnow; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and-exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to'make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus mounted on a vehicle for melting snow; by means of which 1t is possible, in moving this device over snow covered territory, to

' force the snow by hot blow flames to a heated scoop or chamber, where the steam formed will lead into a condensing duct, acting as a cover for the heating chamber, and then be allowed to run off as condensed steam, thereby utilizing to the maximum all of the fuel heat as expended in heating the scoop plate, forming hot water from melting snow, and making steam.

Obviously, by this invention, a large amount f'the heat in the melted snow and steam w1ll be retained in the meltingcham-v 1n the hinge ber, 'which would be entirely lost, if the water and steam wereallowed to directly exv haust into the atmosphere, 1 s

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 illustrates a elevationiviewpi the snow melting apparatus inassembledf portion ofthe condensing form, showing a device 111 section.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of "the fuel lines, showing thefuel suppl. 1 line, supply header, and burners, lea'din'gt erefrom.

Fig. 3 illustrates. a side elevation view of the snow melting scoop, condensing duct,

and means for hei ht adjustmentof :-the

'ductin relationto t e fender.

Similar numerals represent the same part in the different views. I

' Numeral 1 designates. crank ratchet with chain attached to melting device at-,14, tor the purpose of raising or, lowering the'snow elevator or meltingscoop 2, ,while srepra l I .over the snow, and attached to the side plates sents an adjustable weight at the end of an arm4, adapted for use as a counterbalance pivoting the steam condensin duct 5,, at int 6. Numeral 7, esignates a 'sheetmeta elevator or scoop casin while 8 illustrates a swinging an excess-amount o snow or melting madoor adapte to allow terial to ass from the scoop 2. The nu meral 9 d signates a fan driven by a small motor 10, adapted to force, if necessary, the steam rising from the melting snowA, up

\ through the steam duct 11 and down'through new and useful Improvements in Machines 5. The flexible duct 12 may be made of the flexible duct 12, intoithe condensing duct canvas or any suitable material, to allow for the swinging of the condensing duct 5 at a flexible line 23 to the fuel supply header x" '24, from which amultiplicity 0 auxiliary burners 25 are designed to extend under-1 neath and in close proximity to the-.sooopfl,"

being attachedor suitably con-nected theres to, as by brackets 26. The auxiliary burners 25 may haveperforations 21' along the side next to the scoop 2, .order to utiliZe'tO. the fullest extent the heat generated ,.by the fuel suppl "for the. purpose'of heating the $000 or; e evator' 2. The flexible fuel supply ine 23 may be made of any suitable material in order'to allow for the pivoting of the melting apparatus on the pivot pin 28,

extending through a bracket 29, fastened to l the frame workv 15. The bracket 29 may beflo supplied with a multiplicity of pivot -pin holes 30, vfor the pur se of allowing a. vertic al 'adjustment of t e apparatus.

In the lower side of the condensing duct 5, next-toithesnowreceiving chamber, will be'loca'ted an opening and sliding damper "3-1, adapted to open the condensing duct 5, directly to the elevator or receiving chamber wheneverthe fan 9 is not used.

The portion of thecondensing duct 5 or- 106' dinarily coming in contact: with the snow is preferably des gned with an oval shape as at 32, in order to assure a gliding motion 34 0f the duct 5, may be guiding lates or skids 33 of suitable width, adjustably bolted to the plates 34 as at 35.

The numeral 36 designates a .set screw adapted to aid in holduig'the condensing duct 5, in desired position, as established by raised to a desired height, a few turnsof the set screw 36 will operate to hold the device in rigid relation, and if it is desired to limit the movement along the segment at any point, the adjustable weight 39' may be moved along the segment bar 37, and

clamped thereto, formingan effective stop.

The steam after passing through the steam duct and cover plate 5, and expending its heat as an additional means of melting snow, will be discharged'in thefor'm of 'condensa tion through an opening 40 at the base of the duct. a

the snow at a suitable speed, the cover 5, or condensing duct, when properly adjusted, will be forced by the snow in an upward direction, thereby allowing the snow to slide up thehot scoop 2 into the heatedchamber,

the flames bearing on a base line of show just in front of the apparatus, has made this action comparatively easy. chamber hot water and steam immediately begin to form. The steam is forced into the condensing chamber or cover 5 by means of fan 9-, or 'if fan is not used the'steam may a be allowed to pass into the condensing chamber through a suitable opening 31, in

the bottom of the cover above the snow level, and after the heat in the steam has been used for melting the snow by passing through the hollow cover, it is discharged through 0 ening 40 in the form of condensation. 0 viously, by this invention a maximum amount of the total initial heat is used in the melting of the snow, resulting in great economy of time, saving of fuel, and increased efiiciency generally. The economy in time resulting from the use'of this invention, would, allow :agreatlygincreased T area \ofsnow covered territory to be thoroughly cleared,'at am ni 1; Ina snow scoop mounted on a vehicle,

the combination with a'snow melting device,

the combination with a snow melting device,

a the steam to the condensin In operation the apparatus will pass overv IVithin the "consisting of a container having a heated scoop upon which the snow is forced thereby, forming hot water and steam, of a condensing chamber adapted to form a cover for the container, and. means for admitting the steam tothe condensing chamber, the said condensing chamber having an opening in the end adapted as a discharge for condensation. i a

3. In a snow scoo mounted on a vehicle, the combination wit a snow melting device consisting of a container having a heated scoop upon which the snow is forced thereby, forming hot water and steam, Qi acondensing chamber adapted to form =8. cover for the container, and means for admitting I chamherthe said condensing chamber having an opening in the end adapted as a discharge for condensation, of means for adjusting the c0n densing chamber cover in relation to the container and upper snow surface.

4. In a snow scoop mounted on a vehicle, the combination with a snow melting device, consisting of a container having a heated scoop upon which the snow is forced thereby, forming hot water and steam, of a condensing chamber adapted to form a cover i'orthe contalner, and means for admitting -the steam to the condensing chamber, the

said condensing chamber having an opening inthe end adapted as a discharge for condensation, of means for adjusting the condensing chamber cover m relation to the container and upper snow surface, and means to adjust the height of thecontainer in relation to the snow covered surface.

5, In a snow scoop mounted on a vehicle,'.

the combination with a snow melting device, consisting of a container having a heated scoop upon which thesnow is forced there-.

by, forming'hot water and steam, of a condensing chamber adapted to form a cover for the container, and meansfor admitting the steam to the condensing chamber, the i said condensing chamber having an opening in' the end adapted as a discharge for ski'ds adjustably attached to the sides of the condensing chamber, adapted to aid the cover to glide over the surfaceof the snow.

' In testimony whereof I aflix 1n signature.

' JOHN S. RADY. 

